And so ~ it began...

Not intentionally. We've been doing it for a while. Perusing MLS listings online. Picking up a Realtor magazine every now and again. Then one day honey says... 'This one's interesting.' We call the realtor, or he calls us - can't specifically recall as things are a wee bit of a blur right now - and we go. What harm can it do? We're just looking. We're not ready to move.

We fell in love. Everything we've been looking for. A wee house in the woods (almost 2 acres):
* A wooded lot (can't see neighbors).
* A garage on the Side of the house, not taking up the entire front making it look like those garages with homes attached.
* A cute little deck on the front.
* The number of bedrooms (2 + a yarn room) upstairs.
* Downstairs - a pool table current home owners would rather not transport.
* Back deck with fire pit off to the side, with space for a HOT TUB. A pool that can be used All Year 'Round!

We get excited. Then I step onto the front deck. What? What is this I see? An antique (very antique as it's in the elements) Spinning Wheel!

Uh ohhh.

We've done harm. Harm has been done. We're just looking. We're not ready to move.

Well actually, little jak is almost ready for Jr. High and we don't want him going to a new high school with people he doesn't know... So maybe this is the best timing...

Us: Mr. Realtor what do we need to do?
Mr. Realtor (MR): You need to get your house ready to sell.

5 days later I find myself on my hands and knees having worn the same clothes for 5 DAYS! (yes, I changed my underwear and showered sporadically). You must understand. The house HAD to be ready and SOLD before someone else bid on our antique Spinning Wheel - I mean house.

At first we thought we'd call contractors. After four phone calls I realized the expansion and building of this city is taking a toll on the supply - or contractors are completely lazy and unreliable (that's all I'll say about that).

Then I thought, I'll do it. How hard can 3 levels of baseboards, window frames and closet doors be to paint white. On the third floor, four days in the same clothes, on my hands and knees I had my 'come to Jesus' moment. I think we all get them in life - this was mine.

4 days by myself. Alone with my thoughts.
No daily distractions. Just painting.
Sure - the first three days of sanding, priming and two coats of paint, the mantra was ~ Hot Tub, Hot Tub, Hot Tub...
The mantra became scattered and slowing disintegrated into thoughts I haven't thought in a thousand years. Friends I miss, things I've done and not proud of, things I said and wish I hadn't. Experiences - good and bad. Races, language barriers, wishing I spoke different languages, and if I did, would I find different things funny? Would I have a different sense of humor? You see where I'm going?

Mr. jak is away. On business. On a weekend. I'm 4 days in.

He calls on Sunday morning to tell me he's at the airport. I say, so what did you work on last night? He says, oh (and he says this very casually, like it's any other day. Not like I've been working my Ass off. Not like we're not trying to get our house on the market and buy a Spinning Wheel - um, I mean HOUSE), he says, oh I just decided to stay and extra night and hang with the guys...

ok, i say.
see you when you get home, i say.
we (i) hang up.

I take my paint stained clothes off. I jump in the shower and clean myself off. Wipe away the dust and scrub my paint stained, broken nailed, dry, cut, cracked (not knitting) hands.

I thought about going away for a couple of days. Of calling him and saying, oh I just decided to go away for a while. I'll be back when I'm finished. But, I don't. I stay. I continue to paint. Hot tub, hot tub, hot tub.....